Horse Racing questions and answers

[str]

Races today 8-1 race 6 Saratoga. #12 I haven't really had a chance to look yet.... cleaning up gear.... and just catching up on sleep and things,

I saw that this horse ran. I wouldn't read much into it. Not so great a debut but I usually like to see where they are after race #3. Especially a horse that doesn't flash high early speed. Let's see what the next 2 starts bring.

[str]

[COLOR=rgba(77, 76, 76, 0.9)]Visceral Post-Race Follow-Up
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Upon post-race scope, Visceral was discovered to have a pretty nasty sub-epiglottic ulcer which led to an entrapped epiglottis.
The good news is that this would absolutely be a valid excuse for Visceral’s performance. In that regard Mark and we feel some relief as Visceral was simply showing too much to run like he did without a reason behind it. Perhaps the fact that he ran even as well as he did can be taken as a positive now.
The less positive news is that Visceral will need a little bit of down time and a minor procedure to remedy his condition. The first step is healing the ulcer. He’s already been given some anti-inflammatories and will be re-checked in a few days. He’ll then go to San Luis Rey Equine Hospital to use their hyperbaric chamber and possibly get some laser treatment. Once the ulcer is healed and inflammation has gone down he’ll have very minor surgery to address the entrapment. At some point he’ll likely move to TriFecta Equine Athletic Center, which is associated with SLR Equine Hospital.
The typical time frame for an entrapped epiglottis by itself is around two weeks out of training. Coupled with the ulcer, Visceral’s vet estimates that he’ll need more like 30 days out of training to be safe. All things considered, that’s really not a long time at all and, as we said, at least we have an obvious and very real explanation for yesterday.
We’ll of course closely monitor Visceral’s condition and recovery and will pass along any significant news as it comes.

That definitely would be a valid reason Batt. Is the procedure a myectomy ? If so, nothing to worry about and they all help at least some. Usually more than some. Quick recovery time. We used to do them sometimes in the barn at the track. Very simple procedure. Can actually run back in about 3 -4 weeks if they are older. Babies, a little longer but not much.
Ugh, babies. So fun and so irritating all at the same time. It sounds fine though.

[str]

[COLOR=rgba(77, 76, 76, 0.9)]Straight No Chaser Follow Up
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On Saturday morning, a lameness locator exam was performed on Straight No Chaser, which pinpointed his front left fetlock to be the source of concern again. His lameness is very mild when jogging on a shank, but more prominent with weight in his back. We will now need to set up a PET scan for this week to figure out exactly what is going on. Of course, this draws some initial concern as this is the general area which set him back last year. A PET scan will allow us to truly identify if it is the sesamoid region or another area of the fetlock. We will follow back up as soon as we receive the results which will likely be towards the end of next week.

Let's not speculate here. Sesamoids are nothing to mess with. Those can be catastrophic if pushed. We will see what's up and honestly, the sesamoids typically decide for you. Not a lot of maybe with those. Time will tell.

[str]

[COLOR=rgba(77, 76, 76, 0.9)]Seize the Grey Race Recap


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Seize the Grey finished fourth of six in the Jim Dandy with a pretty good trip and no obvious excuses.
He broke cleanly, and was guided into a rail spot by Jaime Torres to sit fourth down on the fence as they went an average pace. He had every chance heading for home, but just never got going from there.
While he had been closer to the pace in his last few races, we did not mind that ride at all and don’t think showing more speed early would have resulted in a better finish. Longshot Pony Express was hard-ridden to the front, and Fierceness figured to be piloted aggressively as well (and was), so forcing the issue would’ve only gotten Seize the Grey involved in a potential speed duel.
Jaime had been instructed to let Seize the Grey find his own rhythm and put himself where he wanted to be, and that’s what he did. He felt what we saw—they were in a great spot nearing the lane, but just didn’t fire.
Ultimately, Seize the Grey was a bit flat again and once again just didn’t run back to his big effort in the Preakness. We’ll see how he comes back, huddle up with the team and share the game plan when we have it.

Yep, I saw that. Still a darn nice horse. Pretty sure that trainer will figure things out with him. He's been known to do that a time or two.

[str]

[COLOR=rgba(77, 76, 76, 0.9)]Caldera Starts Speed Work

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https://cdnb-media.myracehorse.com/blog/video/filtered7A7E018E017E45D0B89CA8BD8FA9D186 _1722442444636/MP4/filtered7A7E018E017E45D0B89CA8BD8FA9D186 _1722442444636.mp4
We are pleased to share that Caldera had his first unrecorded work at Oak Ridge Training Center yesterday morning. Dave Scanlon was really pleased with what he saw, noting, “Usually horses like him that haven’t worked in a while take a little time to pick things up, but he grabbed a hold of the bit from the get go and went really nice.”
He’ll continue to increase the intensity in his training each week with the plan remaining to ship to the Lukas barn at Saratoga in mid-August. With the Saratoga meet ending on September 2nd, if Dave feels Caldera needs a little more time, we would then look to ship him directly to Churchill Downs once the Lukas team arrives back in Kentucky.

All this makes sense as well. Maybe just shoot to send him to Churchill. I mean, what the heck. Why not.

[str]

Saratoga weather strikes again.... I guess that is why I prefer Del mar....

Yeah. Great weather is undefeated right?

[str]

It's not that bad. Last year was worse. Is any anyone still attending DelMar?? Other than BC weekend?? My local friends say it's a ghost land?

Last year WAS worse. Got to hope for some more nice days like early in the meet.

[JBEX]

hey str

will delaying the saratoga derby affect horses in different ways .. some may benefit while others being significantly put off by it ?? obviously something only the connections would know better but i just mean in general terms and not specific to these horses

[str]

hey str

will delaying the saratoga derby affect horses in different ways .. some may benefit while others being significantly put off by it ?? obviously something only the connections would know better but i just mean in general terms and not specific to these horses

Yes. No doubt.

The question is which ones and how? No way to know for sure. Have to think that it must help the favorite with that quick 17 day turn around from Ireland now being 24 days. I have to assume that can't hurt. Probably help anywhere from a little to significant. As for the rest, we won't know if it matters none, a little or maybe more than that until the 1/8th pole.


In general, you try and build to a date, you are all set, and then have to reset. Even the trainer can be unsure often times. You do everything you can to get back the build up and proper prep, but it just isn't quite the same.

[str]

I had dinner last night with Chris Mac. and his girlfriend, his brother Greg Mac. a former jockey in Md. for years and his wife and Greg's son Matt, who rode steeple chase, was excellent, and is now the asst. starter on the Md. gate crew.
Really great to see them as it had been about a year and a half.
As Chris said, "We told some old tales, and made up some new ones". Lol.

Lets take a pole:

When asked who the best horse he ever rode was, Chris had three at the top of the list. And he wavers a bit as they were all great. Who do you think he finally put on top... in a photo finish. I'll leave it open about a week so most have a chance to vote if they want to.

1. Sunday Silence
2. John Henry
3. Alysheba

[JBEX]

going with sunday silence..as good as the rivalry was between bet twice and alysheba I think SS and easy goer was at another level ..the latter was a truly great horse ..in short I think brilliance of the younger horses wins out over the longevity of john henry..also running in the triple crown and breeders cup races SS and ALY might have extra meaning to him..I'm giving in the back of his head (somewhat sentimental) reasons why he'd make the choice .. not what he'd say if he was asked why (although beating EG pretty concrete)..could be totally wrong and IF he chose SS might have nothing to do with what I said

[Easy-Rider 66]

I will go with John Henry

[str]

I had dinner last night with Chris Mac. and his girlfriend, his brother Greg Mac. a former jockey in Md. for years and his wife and Greg's son Matt, who rode steeple chase, was excellent, and is now the asst. starter on the Md. gate crew.
Really great to see them as it had been about a year and a half.
As Chris said, "We told some old tales, and made up some new ones". Lol.

Lets take a pole:

When asked who the best horse he ever rode was, Chris had three at the top of the list. And he wavers a bit as they were all great. Who do you think he finally put on top... in a photo finish. I'll leave it open about a week so most have a chance to vote if they want to.

1. Sunday Silence
2. John Henry
3. Alysheba

Please feel free to vote in the pole even if you don’t post in here regularly.

Everyone, if you like horse racing, feel free to vote.

[JBEX]

also worth mentioning both easy goer and alysheba were sons of alydar who had the great triple crown race and beyond rivalry with affirmed in 1978..lots of rivalries involved with all these horses

[batt33]

Please feel free to vote in the pole even if you don’t post in here regularly.

Everyone, if you like horse racing, feel free to vote.

Going with the old man John Henry.....

[mrginandtonic]

John Henry is my vote

[JBEX]

baseball analogy

sunday silence ..koufax
alysheba .. bob gibson
john henry .. nolan ryan

[str]

baseball analogy

sunday silence ..koufax
alysheba .. bob gibson
john henry .. nolan ryan

Yes. How wrong can anyone really be right?

[Madison]

I had dinner last night with Chris Mac. and his girlfriend, his brother Greg Mac. a former jockey in Md. for years and his wife and Greg's son Matt, who rode steeple chase, was excellent, and is now the asst. starter on the Md. gate crew.
Really great to see them as it had been about a year and a half.
As Chris said, "We told some old tales, and made up some new ones". Lol.

Lets take a pole:

When asked who the best horse he ever rode was, Chris had three at the top of the list. And he wavers a bit as they were all great. Who do you think he finally put on top... in a photo finish. I'll leave it open about a week so most have a chance to vote if they want to.

1. Sunday Silence
2. John Henry
3. Alysheba

Isn't John Henry the choice just based on longevity. Didn't he win the CHI race at like 8 yrs old?

[JBEX]

Yes. How wrong can anyone really be right?

exactly

[JBEX]

not a pick..actually went with somebody else in my thread

an army mule going in sar R6 #10 backstretch rose (10-1)

[str]

I had dinner last night with Chris Mac. and his girlfriend, his brother Greg Mac. a former jockey in Md. for years and his wife and Greg's son Matt, who rode steeple chase, was excellent, and is now the asst. starter on the Md. gate crew.
Really great to see them as it had been about a year and a half.
As Chris said, "We told some old tales, and made up some new ones". Lol.

Lets take a pole:

When asked who the best horse he ever rode was, Chris had three at the top of the list. And he wavers a bit as they were all great. Who do you think he finally put on top... in a photo finish. I'll leave it open about a week so most have a chance to vote if they want to.

1. Sunday Silence
2. John Henry
3. Alysheba

Poll open for a few more days.

Vote for who you think was his number one?

[batt33]

some updates... with one eye on the fires...[COLOR=rgba(77, 76, 76, 0.9)]Visceral Update[/COLOR]Visceral’s throat is on the mend and he’s doing well in his recovery. The ulcer has shrunken significantly and he underwent a hook procedure (very common surgery which involves using a hooked knife inserted through the nasal passage to split the aryepiglottic fold) to address the entrapped epiglottis. Mark reports that the team at SLR Equine Hospital are very pleased with what they’ve seen thus far. We don’t have a timeline for his recovery and return quite yet, but once we have a better idea we’ll share that information.
[COLOR=rgba(77, 76, 76, 0.9)]Seize the Grey Update

Seize the Grey returned to the work tab on Monday morning over the Oklahoma Training Track at Saratoga and was credited with five furlongs in :59.60. Admittedly, this was a bit sooner than we were expecting to see him back on the work tab, but trainer D. Wayne Lukas continues to be pleased with Seize the Grey's status since the Jim Dandy. We have had various chats with “The Coach” while our team was at the Saratoga sale this past week, game-planning our next move.
Despite the sharp work earlier this week, we would like to bypass the G1 Travers and instead give him additional time as we believe that will give him his best chance to rebound. It’s incredible what this colt has been able to accomplish this year, but he has had to overcome a very tough campaign, which included seven races in six months while at the highest level. The plan will be to point to either the G1 Pennsylvania Derby (Sept. 21) or the G1 California Crown (Sept. 28) with the hope of making a run at the G1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile--but of course, a run in the Breeders' Cup will depend on a good effort in one of those two prior race options.
[COLOR=rgba(77, 76, 76, 0.9)]Straight No Chaser Update[/COLOR]

We are pleased to report that Straight No Chaser’s PET scan came back about as positive as we could have hoped for. There were some notable minor changes from his last scan in December of 2023, but Dr. Spriet--who is considered the PET expert--and has followed your colt’s case since May of 2023, considered him at low risk.
Dr. Spriet believes there is no reason Straight No Chaser shouldn’t remain in training while monitoring him as usual. He has recommended a follow-up PET scan in three months to monitor any further changes.
Straight No Chaser will jog for a few days before doing anything further but we are thrilled to have him receive the green light to return to training.

[/COLOR]

[str]

some updates... with one eye on the fires...[COLOR=rgba(77, 76, 76, 0.9)]Visceral Update[/COLOR]Visceral’s throat is on the mend and he’s doing well in his recovery. The ulcer has shrunken significantly and he underwent a hook procedure (very common surgery which involves using a hooked knife inserted through the nasal passage to split the aryepiglottic fold) to address the entrapped epiglottis. Mark reports that the team at SLR Equine Hospital are very pleased with what they’ve seen thus far. We don’t have a timeline for his recovery and return quite yet, but once we have a better idea we’ll share that information.
[COLOR=rgba(77, 76, 76, 0.9)]Seize the Grey Update

Seize the Grey returned to the work tab on Monday morning over the Oklahoma Training Track at Saratoga and was credited with five furlongs in :59.60. Admittedly, this was a bit sooner than we were expecting to see him back on the work tab, but trainer D. Wayne Lukas continues to be pleased with Seize the Grey's status since the Jim Dandy. We have had various chats with “The Coach” while our team was at the Saratoga sale this past week, game-planning our next move.
Despite the sharp work earlier this week, we would like to bypass the G1 Travers and instead give him additional time as we believe that will give him his best chance to rebound. It’s incredible what this colt has been able to accomplish this year, but he has had to overcome a very tough campaign, which included seven races in six months while at the highest level. The plan will be to point to either the G1 Pennsylvania Derby (Sept. 21) or the G1 California Crown (Sept. 28) with the hope of making a run at the G1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile--but of course, a run in the Breeders' Cup will depend on a good effort in one of those two prior race options.
[COLOR=rgba(77, 76, 76, 0.9)]Straight No Chaser Update[/COLOR]

We are pleased to report that Straight No Chaser’s PET scan came back about as positive as we could have hoped for. There were some notable minor changes from his last scan in December of 2023, but Dr. Spriet--who is considered the PET expert--and has followed your colt’s case since May of 2023, considered him at low risk.
Dr. Spriet believes there is no reason Straight No Chaser shouldn’t remain in training while monitoring him as usual. He has recommended a follow-up PET scan in three months to monitor any further changes.
Straight No Chaser will jog for a few days before doing anything further but we are thrilled to have him receive the green light to return to training.

[/COLOR]

Visceral update: Perfect.


Seize The Grey : That work was kind of odd. Guess it just happened. Can't think that was the objective but pretty sure the trainer will get him where he wants him throughout the month. Class relief for some confidence is always a good thing IMO.


Straight No Chaser: That is real good news. Sometimes, things happen that are subtle enough that the horse knows but maybe we don't. He will be eagle eyed by the trainer moving forward with each step a progression to what to do next. All in all, good news there Batt.

GL with the darn fires Batt.
All the best.

[JBEX]

saratoga derby will be R11 on sunday
@ 6:49

friday card is canceled due to forecast of heavy rain..saturday weather will be ok but guess they want to give some time for the turf to get firmer

[Jellymancan]

Sunday Silence

[str]

Thanks for checking in Jellyman !

[JBEX]

hey str


have an uncle mo/tapit mare 2yo first time starter at saratoga R1 #4 aviator (3-1)..going 7f ..chad brown


like them going the extra furlong as KB debut was at a mile and he won ..str knows


pointing it out because that's the kingsbarn combo..str knows





.

[str]

hey str


have an uncle mo/tapit mare 2yo first time starter at saratoga R1 #4 aviator (3-1)..going 7f ..chad brown


like them going the extra furlong as KB debut was at a mile and he won ..str knows


pointing it out because that's the kingsbarn combo..str knows





.

Appreciate the heads up.
That is interesting indeed.

[Madison]

Isn't John Henry the choice just based on longevity. Didn't he win the CHI race at like 8 yrs old?

Arlington Million. Didn't JH own that one?

[JBEX]

Appreciate the heads up.
That is interesting indeed.

np str..$2M+ cumulatively of horseflesh finished top 2 and both had experience so tough spot..useful effort and will probably improve in start 2

[JBEX]

actually might be a useful thing to factor in when he runs next..one of those still very young.met potential killers and needed one under him..probably be nicely set up to run at aqueduct @ 6f for start two

[mcaulay777]

I would go with John Henry and it is not even close one thing that made John Henry so good was that he won on both Surfaces you saw that a lot in the 70's and early 80's horses would run on both turf and dirt Crystal Water Vigors Cougar,ect that moving from turf to dirt and vis a versa died a long time agio!

[BOA12]

A non post just saying hello to old friends.

[str]

Arlington Million. Didn't JH own that one?

He won it in 1981 and 1984